Self unloading carrying dolly

ABSTRACT

A load of sections of wallboard are positioned flat upon the upper frame of the apparatus. A series of rollers mounted on the upper frame allow the load to be easily moved relative to the upper frame. The upper frame is connected to the base frame of the apparatus by a pair of hinges that are positioned offset from the central axis of the upper frame with the upper frame being supported by the hinges and a portion of the base frame that contacts the upper frame on the opposite side of the central axis from the pivots. Wheels connected to the base frame give the apparatus mobility. To unload the apparatus the wheels on one side of the apparatus are folded under and the load is moved relative to the upper frame until its center of gravity is on the unsupported portion of the upper frame. The upper frame pivots relative to the base frame and the load moves off of the apparatus onto the floor.

United States Patent [191 Montgomery SELF UNLOADING CARRYING DOLLY [76] Inventor: Thruman R. Montgomery, 2017 Hurstview Dr., Hurst, Tex. 75063 [22] Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 235,952

[52] US. Cl 214/506, 214/84, 280/43.1'7 [51] Int. Cl 860p 1/28 [58] Field of Search 214/505, 506,501, 214/84; 280/4317 [56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,572,945 10/1951 Quesnoit 214/506 3,288,315 11/1966 Bigden 214/506 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 84,192 8/1954 Norway 214/84 60,110 3/1954 France 214/506 Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Attorney-Eddie E. Scott 57] ABSTRACT Jan. 1,1974

A load of sections of wallboard are positioned flat upon the upper frame of the apparatus. A series of rollers mounted on the upper frame allow the load to be easily moved relative to the upper frame. The upper frame is connected to the base frame of the apparatus by a pair of hinges that are positioned offset from the central axis of the upper frame with the upper frame being supported by the hinges and a portion of the base frame that contacts the upper frame on the opposite side of the central axis from the pivots. Wheels connected to the base frame give the apparatus mobility. To unload the apparatus the wheels on one side of the apparatus are folded under and the load is moved relative to the upper frame until its center of gravity is on the unsupported portion of the upper frame. The upper frame pivots relative to the base frame and the load moves off of the apparatus onto the floor.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 1 2914 SHEET 10F'2 FIG. I

FIG. 2

1 SELF UNLOADING CARRYING DOLLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the art of material handling and more particularly to apparatus for transporting and handling a load of flat elongated material.

The transportation and handling of loads of building material such as sheetrock, plywood, wallboard or other material of similar shape has always been a difficult and time consuming operation, requiring two or more workers. This type of material is bulky and heavy and some individual varities of building material are relatively fragile and may easily be damaged. It is generally necessary to move large quantities of the material to individual locations at the building site during construction. For example, at the building site loads of the material must be transported from a central stock to separate individual locations where they will be unloaded to a horizontal position and stored until they are installed. A need clearly exists for apparatus that will allow a single worker to transport the loads of building material and unload them in a simple and expedient manner.

Other industries also have a need for a simple and inexpensive apparatus that will allow a single worker to transport a large flat load. For example, loads of sheet metal must be moved in fabrication plants and large industrial products must be transported in factories and warehouses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The most extensively used prior art system of transporting and handling building material is simply by two or more workers carrying sections of the material and depositing the sections'at the desired location. This however includes the disadvantages and problems associated with the great weight and bulk of the material, the possibility of the material being damaged and the amount of time consumed by the operation.

The use of flat load carrying dollies and platform trucks is also known in the transportation and handling of building material. These systems also include a number of disadvantages because of the large amount of time and energy required to load and unload the dollies and trucks. At least two workers are required to lift the sections of material from the dolly or truck and deposit them at the desired location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus that allows a single individual to transport and unload a flat load such as a load of a multiplicity of sections of build ing material in one swift and easy operation. The base frame of the apparatus is provided with wheels, rollers or other means to allow the apparatus to be easily moved, loaded or unloaded, to the desired location. An upper frame is pivotally connected to the base frame and is adapted to receive the load. Rollers or other conveyer means may be provided on the upper frame to facilitate unloading. Once the apparatus and load have been moved to the desired location the load is moved on the upper frame until the upper frame pivots on the base frame. The load will then move downward off the apparatus and into position at the desired location. The wheels on one side of the apparatus include means for folding the wheels under to assist in unloading.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for transporting and unloading loads of flat elongated material.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that will allow one worker to transport and unload sections of sheetroclt, plywood, wallboard or other material of similar shape.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that will securly hold a flat elongated load in place during transit and then allow the load to be unloaded at a desired location.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a compact and sturdy apparatus for transporting and handling building material or other loads of similar shape.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and reliable apparatus for handling building material or other loads of similar shape.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevated view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 with a load of building material in position for transportation.

FIG. 3 is an end view of another embodiment of the present invention with the apparatus in position for a load to be unloaded.

FIG. 4 shows the front wheels of the apparatus and the actuating rod for folding the wheels under the base frame during unloading.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIION Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. ll, an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown and is designated generally by the reference number N. The apparatus ill includes a retangular base frame 12. Two wheels 13 and 13' are mounted in swivels affixed to two corners of the base frame 12. A single wheel 14 is positioned in a mount that is rigidly affixed to one side of the base frame 12. Two wheels l5 and T5 are mounted in swivels affixed to a pivotable frame lib connected to the base frame 12. A single wheel T17 is positioned in a mount that is rigidly affixed to the pivotable frame 16. The wheels allow the apparatus in to be easily moved and manuevered to transport loads of building material or other substances.

An upper frame 18 is mounted. upon base frame 12 by a pair of pivots in the form of hinges w and 2b. The hinges 19 and 20 are positioned offset from the central axis of two of the parallel sides of the upper frame 18., thereby dividing the upper frame 18 into a load supporting section 21 and an unloading section 22. The outer end of the load supporting section 21 normally rests on a stop frame 23 that is positioned on base frame 12.. The unloading section 22 does not contact the base frame 12 and when the upper frame 118 is pivoted on hinges 19 and 20 the unloading section 22 clears the base frame 12. A series of rollers 24 and 25 are positioned on the upper frame 1% and when the load is positioned on the upper frame 18 it will rest on the rollers 24 and 25.

The apparatus includes a fixed load securing frame 26 that projects upward from base frame 12. An actuating handle 27 is positioned behind the load securing frame 26 and the actuating handle is affixed to an actuating rod 28. The actuating rod 28 is in turn connected to the pivotable frame 16. Movement of the actuating handle 27 and the actuating rod 28 causes the pivotable frame 16 to pivot relative to the base frame 12 and the wheels 15, 15 and T7 to turn under. The actuating handle 27 is locked in the up position during transit and the handle 27 is moved only during the unloading operation. A multiplicity of rings, three of which are shown, 29 30 and 31 are attached to the base frame 12 to provide connections whereby the apparatus 10 may be hoisted to elevated areas.

The basic structural details of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention having been described, the operation of the apparatus 10 will now be considered with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3'. As shown in FIG. 2, a load 32 is positioned on the upper frame 18 for transportation. The load 32 may be placed on the apparatus 10 by a fork lift truck or other power device and the load 32 need not be handled by workmen. The load 32 rests on the two series of rollers 24 and 2S and is held in place by the fixed load securing frame 26. In this position the load 32 may be easily transported by a single individual thereby moving the load 32 to any desired location. The wheels 13, l3, 14, 15, 15' and 17 provide easy movement and manuverability of the apparatus 10.

Once the load 32 has been transported to the desired location it may be unloaded by one person in a swift and easy operation. As shown in FIG. 3 the handle 27 is moved causing the pivotable frame 16 to pivot relative to the base frame 12 and the wheels 15, 15 and 17 to fold under. The load 32 then begins to move toward the unloading section 22 of the upper frame 18. The weight of the load 32 causes the upper frame 18 to pivot on hinges 19 and 20 when the center of gravity of the load 32 moves past the hinges l9 and 20 and the load supporting section 21 of the upper frame 18 moves upward off of stop frame 23. The load 32 will continue along the now inclined surface of upper frame 18 with the sections of rollers 24 and 25 assisting this movement. The load 32 continues off upper frame 18 onto the floor at the desired location.

ln order to insure unimpeded movement of the load 32 off of apparatus 10 a roll clamp 33 may be connected to the load. The roll clamp 33 is constructed in accordance with an invention by Thurman R. Montgomery described in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 203,339 filed Nov. 30, 1971. The roll clamp 33 in genera] consists of a clamp body 34 including a lower clamping plate 35 that projects outwardly from the main clamp body 34, an upper clamping plate 36 and a wheel 37. As the load 32 moves off of the apparatus 10 the wheel 37 of the roll clamp 33 contacts the floor and facilitates unloading by allowing the load 32 to move freely on the floor until it is completely off apparatus 10. The roll clamp 33 is then easily disconnected from the load 32 and is ready for use in unloading other loads.

Referring now to P16. 4, a top view of the apparatus 10 is shown with the wheels on one side of the apparatus l0 folded under. The wheels are connected to the pivotable frame 16 and the ends of the frame 16 are connected to the base frame 12. The actuating rod 28 is connected between the pivotable frame 16 and the actuating handle 27. When the actuating handle 27 is in a vertical position the pivotable frame 16 is turned so that the wheels 15, 15' and 17 are held in a vertical position and ready to support the apparatus 10 and any load carried on the apparatus 10. When the actuating handle 27 is moved at an angle to the vertical the actuating rod 28 is moved toward the load securing frame 26 and the load securing frame 26 serves as a pivot for the actuating handle 27 The movement of the actuating rod 28 causes the pivotable frame 16 to turn relative to the base frame 12 until the wheels l5, l5 and 17 are turned under as shown in FlG. 4.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for transporting and unloading a load, comprising:

a base frame, said base frame including two parallel side portions,

a pivotable frame connected between said parallel side portions,

wheel means connected to said base frame for allowing said base frame to traverse a surface, said wheel means including first wheel means connected to said base frame and second wheel means connected to said pivotable frame,

actuation means for selectively rotating said pivotable frame,

an upper frame for supporting the load, and

pivot means between said upper frame and said base frame for allowing said upper frame to pivot rela tive to said base frame when unloading said load, said pivot means being positioned off-center of said upper frame to divide said upper frame into a load supporting section and a somewhat smaller unloading section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including conveyer means connected to said upper frame for allowing said load to be moved relative to said upper frame.

=1 l= a: =r =1: 

1. An apparatus for transporting and unloading a load, comprising: a base frame, said base frame including two parallel side portions, a pivotable frame connected between said parallel side portions, wheel means connected to said base frame for allowing said base frame to traverse a surface, said wheel means including first wheel means connected to said base frame and second wheel means connected to said pivotable frame, actuation means for selectively rotating said pivotable frame, an upper frame for supporting the load, and pivot means between said upper frame and said base frame for allowing said upper frame to pivot relative to said base frame when unloading said load, said pivot means being positioned off-center of said upper frame to divide said upper frame into a load supporting section and a somewhat smaller unloading section.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including conveyer means connected to said upper frame for allowing said load to be moved relative to said upper frame. 